Chris Po on food security and why it matters

Learn more about Tatler Asia’s Most Influential 2022 honouree, Chris Po, and his secret to success

In a world where food sustains life, countless people still struggle with hunger. The pressing issue surrounding food unyieldingly demands our attention and action. Christopher “Chris” Po knows this better than anyone else.

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As the chairman of Century Pacific Food and executive chairman of Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures, he does his best to incorporate these beliefs in his works. Innovation and a willingness to embrace changing consumer habits have been key factors contributing to his ongoing success. The interest in eating better and more sustainably gave rise to numerous campaigns for Century Pacific Food’s core products and the inclusion of vegan offerings in Shakey’s restaurant menus to satisfy the appetites of those cutting back on animal products.

In addition, ensuring that Filipinos from all walks of life do not go hungry, even amid mounting challenges, remains a significant concern at the forefront of Po’s mind. “The world is going through unprecedented uncertainty,” he says. “Fulfilling our mission of making food available and affordable is a big challenge during these times. There are no easy answers, but we try our best to balance the needs and interests of all our stakeholders.”

What are your projects in the last two years that you are most proud of? Why?

Chris Po (CP): I’m most proud of how our management teams have shown resilience and fortitude during these pandemic years. At the same time, our different companies have made real progress to redefine our performance to include value creation beyond profitability.

What challenges do you see now in your respective industry? How do you intend to help address these challenges?

CP: The world is going through a period of unprecedented uncertainty. Fulfilling our mission of making food available and affordable is a big challenge during these times. There are no easy answers but we try our best to balance the needs and interests of all stakeholders.